Troops Did Not Shield Attackers in Rukuba Killings, Military Rebuts Viral Claim
The Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE has dismissed as false and misleading a viral allegation by a youth leader in Angwan Rukuba Community claiming that troops provided cover for perpetrators of the recent Palm Sunday attack in Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the military said the claim, widely circulated on social media, was untrue and capable of undermining public trust as well as the morale of troops deployed to maintain peace in the area.
According to the statement, troops only received a distress call after the attack had already been carried out and immediately mobilised to the scene, which was some distance from their deployment location. Upon arrival, the attackers had reportedly fled.
“Troops acted professionally to avert what could have escalated into further bloodshed and immediately pursued the fleeing criminals,” the statement noted, adding that survivors and eyewitnesses could attest to the swift response of security personnel.
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The military disclosed that four gun trucks were dispatched to the scene and that their conduct has been corroborated by other security agencies as well as individuals present during the incident.
It further revealed that the allegation against the troops was promptly investigated and found to be baseless.
Describing the comment by the youth leader as “false, misleading and unfortunate,” the Joint Task Force warned that such claims could create unnecessary tension between the military and host communities, while also dampening the fighting spirit of personnel on the frontlines.
The task force urged members of the public to disregard the allegation, remain calm, and continue to support security agencies with credible and actionable intelligence.
It also assured that troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, are intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack, vowing to sustain operations aimed at restoring and maintaining peace across Plateau State.
The statement was signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE.